GREENWOOD, Ind. - Concordia-St. Paul football has a pair of offensive linemen named to the 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-District Team®, as nominated and voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Senior guard
Rich Kelly and sophomore guard
Tyson Kauffman were named to the team for the Golden Bears.
The two selections marks the second year in a row the football program has had two selections to the first team and fourth time overall. The two offensive guards will head to the Google Cloud Academic All-America® ballot, which is voted on by Division II members of CoSIDA.
The 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-District® Football Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The Google Cloud Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. First-team Academic All-District® honorees advance to the Google Cloud Academic All-America® ballot. First- and second-team (if applicable) Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in early December.
The Division II and III Google Cloud Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2019-20 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs.
Student-athletes from Super Region 4 are nominated by institution sports information directors. All current dues-paying CoSIDA members from the region are eligible to nominate and vote on the awards. To be eligible, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative 3.30 grade point average, be at least a sophomore athletically and academically and a key member of the travel squad with athletic achievements factored into the nominating and voting processes.
#70 Rich Kelly (OL, 6-5, 315, Sr., Plainfield, Ill. / Plainfield South HS)
- Two-time Google Cloud Academic All-District Team selection
- 2018 All-NSIC South Division Second Team
- NSIC Butch Raymond Scholarship recipient
- Will be a 4-time NSIC All-Academic Team selection
- Three-year team captain
- Two-time CSP Offensive Player of the Week
- Six-time CSP Offensive Lineman of the Week
- Season grade of 94 percent with 17 knockdowns, no sacks allowed and just one QB hurry
- Held a 91 percent season grade to lead the team as a junior
- Has not allowed a sack over past two seasons
- Has graded out at 98% three times in 2019, all against SR4 regionally-ranked teams (USF, MSU, Augie)
- Also graded at 95% in four other games, all wins (UIU, WSC, BSU, SMSU)
- Has not graded below 87% this year
#55 Tyson Kauffman (OL, 6-5, 300, So., Stratford, Wis. / Stratford HS)
- 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-District Team
- Will be NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence
- CSP Offensive Lineman of the Week in win over MSU Moorhead
- Has started last five games at guard and has 11 career starts on OL
- Carries an 85% season grade
- Graded at 95% with four knockdowns in win over MSU Moorhead
- Grades in wins: 88% vs SMSU, 84% vs BSU and 87% vs WSC with 100% in reserve role vs USF
- Has 13 knockdown blocks on the year and has not allowed a sack with just five QB hurries against
